The Miami Dolphins are hosting the New York Giants in a joint practice on Thursday, giving both teams a chance to workout against another team and different players. The experience against another team is important for both the players and the coaches trying to get a full evaluation of the team. The situation does lead to frustration at times, however, as one side does things a little differently or executes a drill at a different speed. That frustration can boil over, though Dolphins head coach Jeff
Hafley has said he will not tolerate those frustration turning into something dirty.
“Should there be a punch? No, if there’s a punch thrown, they’re out,” Hafley told the media prior to the team’s joint practice against the Washington Commanders last week. “And that’s what I told the team. It’s exactly what I’ve told the team throughout camp. And we’ve been fortunate, there haven’t been a lot of fights. We don’t have time for that.”
On Thursday, right tackle Austin Jackson discovered Hafley is more than just words; he upholds the standards he sets.
According to South Florida Sun Sentinel reporter David Furones, Jackson threw a punch at a Giants playerduring Thursday’s practice. Furones and Miami Dolphins on SI reporter Alain Poupart both highlighted that Jackson was immediately kicked out of practice.
The frustrations and scuffles were not limited to just Jackson, with reports of multiple incidents flaring up – but they did not reach the point of anyone else throwing a punch.
Jackson’s ejection from the workout loses the team’s top right tackle some potentially key repetitions as he and the offensive line prepare for the regular season.
Hafley wants the Dolphins to be more physical this year, but clearly he wants them to be disciplined in their application of that physicality. He proved he was a man of his word and that he holds the team to standards on Thursday when Jackson stepped outside that discipline.
Miami and New York will face each other on Saturday in the second week of the preseason schedule.
